Cigarette consumption by age

See data table below with 95% confidence intervals.

In 2017, average daily cigarette consumption varied significantly between age groups.¹⁸Consumption was lowest among the youngest smokers, at fewer than 11 cigarettes per day (CPD) for smokers under age 25, and was highest among smokers aged 25-34 and aged 45-54, at around 15 CPD (Figure 1.9).

Between 1999 and 2017, average daily cigarette consumption appears to have decreased overall in all age groups, though least among smokers aged 25-34 (Figure 1.10). A general pattern of increasing consumption with age (and often a slight drop after 55) held for most years between 1999 and 2017, although with some variation.

Figure 1.9 data table with 95% confidence intervals

Average daily cigarette consumption* by age group, 2017
	15-19	20-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55+
2017	9.4 [7.5-11.3]	10.7 [9.4-11.9]	15.3 [11.3-19.2]	11.3 [9.0-13.6]	15.0 [13.0-17.0]	14.0 [12.6-15.4]

*Among daily smokers
Data source: Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey, 2017

See data table below with 95% confidence intervals.

Figure 1.10 data table with 95% confidence intervals

Average daily cigarette consumption* by age group, 1999-2017
	15-19	20-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55+
1999	13.1	15.0	15.8	19.0	19.6	17.9
2000	12.7	13.9	16.2	17.6	18.5	18.4
2001	12.9 [11.9-13.8]	13.9 [13.1-14.8]	14.4 [13.2-15.6]	17.9 [16.6-19.2]	17.1 [16.0-18.3]	17.7 [15.6-19.7]
2002	12.9 [12.2-13.7]	14.0 [13.0-15.0]	14.2 [13.2-15.2]	18.1 [17.2-19.1]	18.4 [17.3-19.6]	17.6 [15.6-19.5]
2003	12.3 [11.5-13.1]	12.7 [11.9-13.6]	15.0 [13.8-16.2]	15.5 [14.5-16.5]	17.8 [16.4-19.2]	18.4 [16.7-20.0]
2004	11.6 [10.4-12.8]	12.8 [11.8-13.8]	13.6 [12.3-14.9]	16.0 [14.5-17.5]	17.8 [16.5-19.1]	15.9 [14.3-17.5]
2005	11.0 [10.0-12.0]	13.3 [12.4-14.2]	14.4 [13.1-15.7]	16.2 [14.8-17.6]	19.0 [16.9-21.1]	15.7 [14.3-17.1]
2006	12.3 [11.3-13.3]	12.9 [12.1-13.7]	13.8 [12.3-15.4]	16.0 [14.8-17.3]	17.9 [16.7-19.0]	15.8 [14.4-17.3]
2007	11.7 [10.7-12.8]	13.0 [12.1-14.0]	13.2 [12.1-14.3]	16.1 [14.8-17.5]	17.2 [16.0-18.3]	16.6 [15.1-18.2]
2008	12.2 [11.2-13.3]	12.2 [11.3-13.2]	13.2 [11.6-14.8]	15.7 [14.1-17.2]	15.7 [14.3-17.0]	16.7 [15.3-18.1]
2009	11.4 [10.3-12.6]	12.9 [11.9-13.8]	12.5 [11.3-13.7]	13.4 [12.2-14.7]	16.9 [15.8-17.9]	15.8 [14.5-17.1]
2010	11.6 [10.6-12.6]	12.7 [11.7-13.8]	14.3 [12.8-15.9]	14.9 [13.4-16.5]	16.6 [15.0-18.2]	15.9 [14.6-17.2]
2011	11.7 [1.03-13.22]	11.9 [10.9-12.9]	11.8 [10.5-13.2]	14.8 [13.3-16.3]	16.6 [15.2-18.0]	15.2 [13.9-16.5]
2012	11.1 [9.1-13.2]	12.7 [11.5-13.9]	13.3 [11.5-15.0]	15.3 [13.0-17.6]	15.9 [14.2-17.6]	16.6 [15.1-18.0]
2013	9.21 [7.6-10.9]	11.8 [10.3-13.2]	12.8 [11.2-14.4]	14.3 [12.4-16.1]	14.6 [12.9-16.4]	15.2 [14.0-16.4]
2015	11.6 [9.1-14.1]	11.8 [10.3-13.4]	12.1 [9.8-14.5]	13.9 [11.9-16.0]	15.2 [13.7-16.8]	14.5 [13.0-16.1]
2017	9.4 [7.5-11.3]	10.7 [9.4-11.9]	15.3 [11.3-19.2]	11.3 [9.0-13.6]	15.0 [13.0-17.0]	14.0 [12.6-15.4]

*Among daily smokers
Data sources: Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey, 1999-2012; Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey, 2013, 2015, 2017